Shrub rose plant named ‘AUSimmon’

ABSTRACT

Shrub rose plant suitable for cut flower production under greenhouse conditions, substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly by its upright growth, medium pink shallow cupped blooms having long vase life and moderate fruity fragrance.

Genus and species: Rosa hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘AUSimmon’.

ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of a shrubrose plant named ‘AUSimmon’ which was originated by me by crossing anunnamed, unpatented seedling with an unnamed, unpatented seedling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a rose plantsuitable for year round cut flower production under standard greenhouseconditions having medium pink, fragrant blooms with a long vase life,produced on strong, upright stems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective was substantially achieved, along with other desirableimprovements, as evidenced by the following unique combination ofcharacteristics that are outstanding in the new variety and thatdistinguish it from its parents, as well as from all other varieties ofwhich I am aware:

-   -   1. Medium pink, shallow cupped blooms having long vase life.    -   2. Upright growth.    -   3. Moderate fruity fragrance.    -   4. Suitable for cut flower production under greenhouse        conditions.

Asexual reproduction of this new variety by budding, as performed atAlbrighton, England, shows that the foregoing and all othercharacteristics and distinctions come true to form and are establishedand transmitted through succeeding propagations.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

‘AUSimmon’ has large, medium pink blooms which differ from the smaller,cerise pink blooms of the seed parent and the bright crimson blooms andweaker fragrance of the pollen parent.

COMPARISON WITH SIMILAR VARIETY

‘AUSwith’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,010) has more petals and is pink with atint of apricot, ‘AUSimmon’ is medium pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying illustration shows typical specimens of the vegetativegrowth and flowers of this new variety in different stages ofdevelopment, depicted in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of my new rose cultivar withcolor descriptions using terminology in accordance with The RoyalHorticultural Society (London) Colour Chart (2001), except whereordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated.

-   Parentage:    -   -   Seed parent.—Unnamed Seedling (Unpatented).        -   Pollen parent.—Unnamed Seedling. (Unpatented).

FLOWER

Observations made from plants commencing at two years of age grown in agreenhouse environment at Albrighton, England.

-   Blooming habit: Continuous.-   Bud:    -   -   Size.—About 3 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter when the petals            start to unfurl.        -   Form.—The bud is long, pointed ovoid.        -   Color.—When sepals first divide, bud color is Red-Purple            Group 65A. When half blown, the upper sides of the petals            are Red-Purple Group 65A; and the lower sides of the petals            are Red-Purple Group 58D fading to Red-Purple Group 65B on            the upper third of the petal.        -   Sepals.—Color: Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Lower            surface: Green Group 141C. Length: 3 cm. Width: 0.9 cm.            Shape: Subulate. Surface texture: Upper surface: Rough, with            glands along central strip. Lower surface: Pubescent. There            are three normally appendaged sepals. There are two            unappendaged sepals with canescent edges.        -   Receptacle.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144B. Shape:            Campanulate. Size: Medium, about 1.5 cm long×1 cm wide.            Surface: Smooth.        -   Peduncle.—Length: Medium, averaging about 4.7 cm. Surface:            Smooth. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Strength: Strong.-   Bloom:    -   -   Size.—Large. Average open diameter is about 12 cm.        -   Borne.—In corymb shaped clusters of two to three blooms. For            cut flower production buds may be nipped out to leave a            single bloom.        -   Flowering stems.—Strength: Strong. Average length is about            47 cm with a diameter of 7 mm. Number: 14-16.        -   Form.—When first open: Cupped. Permanence: Outer petal edges            curl slightly.        -   Petalage.—Number of petals under normal conditions: 120.        -   Color.—The upper sides of the petals are Red-Purple Group            73C. The reverse sides of the petals are Red-Purple Group            65A. The bases of the petals are Yellow Group 12C. The major            color on the upper side is Red-Purple Group 73C.        -   Variegations.—None.        -   Discoloration.—The general tonality at the end of the first            day: Red-Purple Group 73C. At the end of the third day: No            change.        -   Fragrance.—Moderate, fruity.-   Petals:    -   -   Texture.—Satiny, thick.        -   Size.—Width: 5.3 cm. Length: 5 cm.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Shape.—Round. Margin: Entire, reflexing and slightly            undulating. Apex Shape: Rounded and slightly cuspidate. Base            Shape: Pointed. Form: Incurved with tips recurved.        -   Arrangement.—Irregular.        -   Petaloids.—Number: 4. Color: Red Group 48A.        -   Persistence.—Petals hang on and dry.        -   Lastingness.—On the plant: Long (about 6-8 days). As a cut            flower: Long (about 6-8 days).-   Reproductive parts:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 80. Length: 7 mm. Anthers: Length: 3 mm.            Color: Yellow-Orange Group 22A. Arrangement: Mixed with            petaloids. Filaments: Color: Yellow-Orange Group 17A.            Length: 4 mm. Pollen: Color: Yellow-Orange Group 22A.        -   Pistils.—Number: 55. Length: 7 mm. Styles: Color:            Green-Yellow Group 1C on lower half with Red Group 53D on            top half. Length: 5 mm. Stigmas: Color: Yellow Group 12B.            Length: 2 mm.        -   Hips.—None observed.

PLANT

-   -   -   Form.—Shrub (grown solely for cut flower production).        -   Growth.—Vigorous, upright, bushy.        -   Age at maturity.—One and one-half years.        -   Mature plant.—Height: 1.2 m. Width: 0.6 m.        -   Rootstock.—Rosa multiflora inermis for the observed plants.

-   Foliage: Number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves: 5 or 7,    including terminal leaflet.    -   -   Size.—Large. About 16.7 cm long×12.4 cm wide.        -   Quantity.—Normal. Average number leaves per flowering stem:            9.        -   Color.—New foliage: Upper side: Green Group 137D in central            area of leaf and Greyed-Red Group 180A along margin. Lower            side: Greyed-Red Group 180A. Old foliage: Upper side: Green            Group 139A. Lower side: Green Group 137C.

-   Leaflets:    -   -   Size.—About 7 cm long×4.4 cm wide.        -   Shape.—Pointed oval.        -   Base shape.—Obtuse.        -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.        -   Texture.—Leathery, semi-glossy.        -   Edge.—Serrated.        -   Serrations.—Single.        -   Petiole.—Color: Green Group 143B.        -   Petiole rachis.—Color: Green Group 143B. Underside: With            prickles.        -   Stipules.—Length: 1.2 cm, bearded.        -   Auricle shape, if present.—Linear.        -   Disease resistance.—Resistant to mildew, blackspot and rust            in greenhouse maintained at about 17.5 degrees C.        -   Pest resistance.—Not tested.        -   Vein color.—Yellow-Green Group 145B.        -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate.

-   Wood:    -   -   New wood.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144B with tint of            Greyed-Orange Group 173A. Bark: Smooth.        -   Old wood.—Color: Green Group 137A. Bark: Rough.        -   Internode distance.—5 cm.

-   Prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—On main canes from base: Ordinary, 23 per 15 cm            stem length. On laterals from main canes: Many, 32 per 15 cm            per stem length.        -   Form.—Straight.        -   Length.—9 mm.        -   Color when young.—Yellow-Green Group 151D with Red Group 46B            at base.        -   Color when mature.—Yellow-Green Group N144A and Red Group            46B on lower half.

-   Small prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—On main stalks: Ordinary. Number per stem length:            18 per 5 cm. On laterals: Many. Number per stem length: 39            per 5 cm.        -   Color.—When young: Yellow-Green Group 151D. When mature:            Yellow-Green Group 151D.

-   Winter hardiness: Not tested.

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the shrub class suitablefor cut flower production under greenhouse conditions, substantially asherein shown and described, characterized particularly by its uprightgrowth, medium pink shallow cupped blooms having long vase life andmoderate fruity fragrance.